The following requirements shall apply to the use of hand-held dental intraoral machines:

1. (a) For all uses:

   1. (1) The registrant shall follow all applicable requirements set forth in the New Hampshire Rules for the Control of Radiation (NHRCR), as well as all manufacturers’s requirements;
   2. (2) The machine shall be used only for dental diagnostic imaging;
   3. (3) The protective shielding shall not be removed or modified;
   4. (4) The registrant shall provide a copy of their operating, safety and security procedures to operators to prevent unauthorized or improper use;
   5. (5) The registrant shall prepare a quality assurance plan, with an emphasis on ensuring limited retaking of radiographs;
   6. (6) Operators of hand-held dental intraoral machines shall be specifically trained to operate such equipment, and the registrant shall provide proof of training for all operators;
   7. (7) When operating a hand-held dental intraoral machine, operators shall wear a lead apron as well as an extremity dosimeter on the hand closest to the protective shielding;
   8. (8) A hand-held dental intraoral machine shall be held without any motion during a patient examination. A tube stand or Rinn kit may be utilized to immobilize a hand-held dental intraoral radiographic unit during patient examination;
   9. (9) Operators of hand-held dental intraoral machines shall provide a secondary protective barrier for patients; and
   10. (10) The operator shall ensure that there are no bystanders within a radius of at least 6 feet (2 meters), from the patient being examined with a hand-held intraoral machine.

2. (b) Additional requirements for operatories in permanent facilities:

   1. (1) Hand-held dental intraoral machines shall be used for patient examinations only in dental operatories that meet the structural shielding requirements specified by DHHS/RHS or by a qualified expert;
   2. (2) Hand-held dental intraoral machines shall not be used for patient examinations in hallways and waiting rooms; and
   3. (3) For battery-powered units, visual means shall be provided on the control panel to indicate whether the battery is in a state of charge adequate for proper operation.

Source. #6827, eff 8-6-98; ss by #8692, INTERIM, eff 7-27-06, EXPIRES: 2-2-07; ss by #8808, eff 1-24-07; ss by #10763, INTERIM, eff 1-23-15, EXPIRES: 7-22-15; ss by #10893, eff 7-21-15